Georgia General Election
By Kaden Bruton
On May 19, 2026, Georgia residents will head to the polls to vote in the general elections. Polls are open from 7 AM to 7 PM. A primary election determines what candidates will run in the general election which will be on May 19. In Georgia’s primary elections, any voter can participate regardless of their political party affiliation and partisan affiliation. In order for a candidate to win they must have a majority of the votes.
Japan Earthquake
By Harper Scully
On April 20 an earthquake struck off the northern coast of Japan, measured at a magnitude of 7.7 on the Richter Scale. The Japanese government urged residents to stay away from the coast and go to higher ground. The nuclear regulation authority power plants and related facilities were unharmed and showed no abnormalities. The earthquake triggered Tsunami warnings, which were lifted April 22. So far only minor injuries have been reported and 180,000 people have been evacuated.
Kash Patel Allegations and Lawsuit
By Joy Ferguson
The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States, Kash Patel, is suing The Atlantic and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick for $250 million. He’s suing them over the alleged story that Patel “alarmed colleagues with episodes of excessive drinking and unexplained absences.” The defamation suit was filed Monday in the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia. Patel’s attorney says Fitzpatrick’s story is a malicious, sweeping and defamatory hit piece. His attorney also confirmed that Patel was locked out of the bureau’s computer system and was panicking. They described this issue as a routine technical problem that was quickly fixed. The lawsuit adds that “Director Patel does not drink to excess” and that “this has not, and has ever been, a source of concern across the government.” Anna Bross, who is The Atlantic’s senior vice president of communications, said Monday in a statement, “We stand by our reporting on Kash Patel, and we will vigorously defend The Atlantic and our journalists against this meritless lawsuit.” In a statement on Monday, Patel also called Fitzpatrick’s article a lie. White House staff, many officials and people with first-hand experience with Patel have said he has severe problems with his professionalism, conduct and personal decorum. Several other officials say Patel has been frequently drinking to the point that he is obviously intoxicated. Patel is concerned for his job, believing he could be the next official that is fired in President Trump’s Administration.
Louisiana Mass Shooting
By Trey Voegtlin
On April 21, 2026, 31-year-old Shamar Elkins fatally shot eight children across three Shreveport, Louisiana homes, marking the deadliest shooting in the United States since January 2024. Seven out of the eight children who were killed were Elkins’s own children and ranged in ages 3-11. Along with those who died at the scene, Elkins shot both his wife and the mother of his seven children, and another woman who was later identified to be the mother of the eighth child that was shot. Elkins was shot by police while fleeing the scene in a carjacked vehicle.
“Michael” Movie Release
By Tatum Trammell
The long-awaited “Michael” movie will be released this upcoming Friday, April 24, 2026. The official debut of the trailer was on Feb. 2, 2026. The movie held a premiere in Hollywood on April 20, 2026 where cast members, family members of Michael Jackson and others celebrated Michael and the creation of the movie. The movie stars Jaafar Jackson, who is actually Michael’s nephew, and his embodiment of Michael made his uncles, specifically Jackie Jackson, extremely emotional. The cast consists of many well-known actors and actresses including Nia Long, Coleman Domingo and Kat Graham.
NBA Playoffs
By Shaw Gordon
The first games of the NBA playoffs have officially started in both the Western and Eastern conferences. The first round games are best out of seven, meaning the first team to win four games wins the series and moves on to the next round. The first seed matches up against the eighth, that being the Pistons vs. the Magic in the East and the Thunder vs. the Suns in the West. The second seed plays the seventh seed and so forth, with the 6/3 and fourth playing the fifth. Teams that win the 1st round will advance to the Conference Semifinals.
Woodward Competes at the Region Track Meet This Week
By Brett Schlossberg
On Wednesday, the Woodward Academy boys’ and girls’ Track and Field teams competed at the region meet. The region meet was held at Buck Godfrey Stadium in Decatur. The boys finished in second place and the girls finished in first place. The meet began at 10:00 with field events, and running events began at 2:30. According to Coach Alida Abdullah, the top four finishers in each event qualify for sectionals. The sectional meet will then serve as the qualifier for the state meet, held from May 11-14.
